The Crown Wants to Negotiate

19 April 2008

G Powell/A E Hansen
Powell Webber & Associates
Solicitors, Auckland

Purpose of Hui

• Update Ngati Whatua o Kaipara on developments since last update hui
• Identify next steps with regard to:
• Treaty claims
• New governance entity

What Has Happened?

• Ngati Whatua o Kaipara and other Ngati Whatua groups invited to meet MICOTOWN in Auckland on 7 February 2008
• Minister confirmed Crown prepared to commit to Treaty settlement negotiations with Ngati Whatua o Kaipara in respect of the South kaipara claim area and Te Runanga o Ngati Whatua in respect of remaining Ngati Whatua claims

Why?

• Ngati Whatua o Kaipara pushing hard on remedies in Waitangi Tribunal
• New political environment – Minister wanting rapid progress and no embarrassments in the Waitangi Tribunal
• With work done on the new governance entity, Ngati Whatua o Kaipara ready to go

Process

• Priority negotiations:
• Terms of Negotiations by early May 2008
• Objective is Agreement in Principle by end 2008
• Deed of Settlement 2009
• Adjourn remedies during negotiations
• Intensive negotiations

Terms of Negotiations

• Set out basis for negotiations – including objectives, funding, timeframes and claimant definition
• Important to use current leverage to try and lock in Crown commitment on redress – particularly the return of Woodhill Forest
• Creation of new governance entity an integral part of negotiations – Terms will require new governance entity to be established within a short timeframe
• Ngati Whatua o Kaipara to approve when negotiated

Claimant Definition

Ngati Whatua o Kaipara will be defined as Every individual who can trace Descent from one or more ancestors who exercised Customary Rights arising from Descent from:

• Haumoewaarangi; and/or
• The tribal groups of Ngati Whatua Tuturu, Te Taou, Ngati Rango, Ngati Hine and Te Uri o Hau; and
• Predominantly within the Area of Interest from 1840.

Area of Interest

Scope of Negotiations

• The negotiations if successful and agreed to by the claimants is intended to settle all Ngati Whatua o Kaipara Historical Claims. Ngati Whatua o Kaipara Historical Claims means every claim made by Ngati Whatua o Kaipara or by a representative entity of Ngati Whatua o Kaipara wherever the claim occurs, including any claims relating to matters outside the Area of Interest:
  • whether or not the claim has arisen or been considered, researched, registered or notified;
  • whenever the claim is made (either before, on or after settlement date)

Agreement in Principle

• Summarises key redress
• Sets quantum
• Identifies key assets to be returned – commercial and cultural
• Identifies relationship instruments
• Detail to be worked out in Deed of Settlement
• Ngati Whatua o Kaipara to approve AIP

Governance Entity

• Currently finalising revised proposal and getting Crown comments
• Summary document
• Draft Trust Deed
• Will be circulated shortly
• Work to begin on comprehensive beneficiary roll
• Crown proposal means funding available from CFRT to complete GE

Initial Comments

• Exciting development
• Result of ongoing pressure
• Ngati Whatua o Kaipara in good position- Crown needs results
• Worth exploring negotiations within a tight timeframe - more certain than remedies

What Next?

• Brief adjournment of remedies until 11 May 2008:
• To report to Ngati Whatua o Kaipara ki te Tonga claimants (today)
• To enable parties to negotiate Terms of Negotiations
• Consultation on Draft Terms of Negotiations in May 2008
• Further work on governance entity and commencement of beneficiary roll